What is the difference between TK and TC fabric, and which should you use?

In the present day, sourcing the ideal fabric for corporate in your products or apparel brands requires careful consideration of various factors, including fabric types, quality, price, color, pattern, and intended purpose. Therefore, to instill confidence in your decision-making process, we aim to clearly distinguish between two popular fabrics: TK and TC fabric, and help you determine which one best suits your needs.

TK fabric, also known as 100% polyester fabric, is an incredibly versatile textile recently gaining significant popularity. This fabric boasts a plethora of notable advantages, including exceptional durability, efficient moisture-wicking properties, remarkable resistance to wrinkles, an economical price point, and effortless maintenance. As a result, its applications span across various industries, from apparel and bedding to home textiles. Furthermore, TK fabric is recyclable, making it an environmentally friendly choice.

TK fabric has recently gained popularity due to several advantages it offers. One notable advantage is its impressive strength, allowing it to endure regular use without easily succumbing to wear and tear. This fabric exhibits exceptional durability, ensuring it maintains its shape over extended periods, even with repeated use and washing. Furthermore, TK fabric boasts vibrant colors that remain vivid for a long time and is highly compatible with heat transfer or sublimation printing techniques. These techniques not only require minimal effort and time but also offer cost-effectiveness.

While TK fabric, or 100% polyester fabric, boasts several advantages, it has limitations regarding breathability, especially when compared to TC fabric or natural fiber blended fabrics. Polyester fabric is known to be hydrophobic and low in absorbency, resulting in reduced ventilation for temperature and moisture. Consequently, it may be uncomfortable to wear. However, despite this drawback, TK fabric continues to enjoy popularity primarily because of its durability and ease of care.

Suppose you are searching for fabric for sewing apparel that can withstand repeated wear without the fear of it becoming worn out or tearing, bedding that can endure everyday use and have a longer lifespan, and home textiles that always maintain a fresh appearance. In that case, TK fabric is the perfect choice. Its remarkable durability, ease of care, ability to retain its shape and color for an extended period, and its more affordable price compared to other fabrics are the key reasons why TK fabric stands out as one of the most popular choices today.

TC fabric is a term used to refer to fabric blended with polyester and cotton. The fabric has a higher ratio of polyester than cotton, about 65:35 and 80:20. TC fabrics are designed to combine the desirable qualities of both polyester and cotton fibers, incorporating the flexibility and durability of polyester with the soft touch and excellent breathability of the cotton. This makes TC fabric a popular choice for manufacturing apparel, bedding, and various textile products.

The polyester content in TC fabric grants them many properties akin to those of polyester fabrics. However, they’re not on par with 100% polyester fabrics. TC fabrics exhibit flexibility, resistance to wrinkles, easily dye, and maintain their shape well even after repeated wear and washing. 

With a small amount of cotton blended in TC fabric, it inherits some of the advantages of cotton, including breathability, comfortable wear, and a soft, smooth texture. Additionally, like TK fabric, TC fabric can be printed using heat transfer or sublimation methods, resulting in long-lasting and vibrant colors. However, it’s worth noting that the color retention of TC fabric is comparatively less resilient than TK fabric. Over time, the dyes in the cotton fibers may gradually diminish through washing and exposure to sunlight.

Although TC fabric has the advantages of combining polyester and cotton fibers, it also has its drawbacks. For instance, while polyester is known for its excellent moisture wicking, the addition of cotton can hinder the fabric's ability to wick away moisture and result in prolonged drying times. Moreover, the fabric may lose its elasticity over time, especially after repeated washings, and the dye in the cotton fibers may gradually fade, making your apparel worn out more quickly. Additionally, TC fabric, a blend of fibers, is not recyclable.

TC fabric is a viable alternative to TK fabric, providing improved breathability and enhanced comfort. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that TC fabric has a shorter lifespan, demands more care, and comes at a relatively higher cost. Consequently, the choice between the two fabrics ultimately depends on personal preference and the specific requirements of your needs or products.

Jongstit leads the way in TK fabric production in Thailand, employing advanced manufacturing technologies that grant our fabrics superior quality over traditional TK fabric. Our TK fabric boasts improved air permeability, reduced pilling, and a luxuriously soft texture. As a result, it has become highly sought-after for creating a wide range of items, including T-shirts, printed jerseys, employee uniforms, and more. Additionally, our TK fabric holds prestigious international certifications, such as OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100: Product Class 1 and The Global Recycled Standard (GRS), establishing trust among customers and renowned global brands for over 80 years.